Target carrying and target turning device



Aprifl 18, 1950 J. L. MURPHY, JR 2,504,273

TARGET CARRYING AND TARGET TURNING DEVICE Filed July 51, 1947 I s Sheets-Sheet 1 J. L. MURPHY, JR

TARGET CARRYING AND TARGET TURNING DEVICE pril 18, 1950 S Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 51, 1947 April 1950 J. L. MURPHY, JR 2,504,273

TARGET CARRYING AND TARGET TURNING DEVICE Filed July 31, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 r 5 w 70 i1 28 31 Patented Apr. 18, 1950 rec s TATES TARGET CARRYING AND TARGET TURNING DEVICE -J-ames LfMurlihy, J r., Wa'shingtOnfDfC. Application 'July 31, 1941, 'SeriaLNm-F'IMSSG '-1'0-Cla'ims. (c1. 27-3 mm) f'l'his"invention'r'elates to improvements in "targt ap a'ratus for rifle or pistol ranges,"armories andshooting galleries where small arms'are'u'sed foriiring at targets.

Theinventionrel'ates moreparticularly to apparatu's .forsimultan'e'ously regulating the positions of-the "targets at the target station, and for causing the targets "to move from the "firing station'tothe target station.

' In thepast" target carriers have been constructeiiso that the target'may be moved from the firing station to the target stationbut'no means has been provided for moving one ormoreof the targets from a non-firing position toafiring'position'a'tthe "target-station for only a predetermine d time. Heretoforethe'carriers to whichithe targets are secured 'were moved at the discretion df the'shooter from the firing station to the targ'ts'ta'ti'on,thetargets having their full'face faclrig the' shooter throughout the movement. Such an arrangement does not provide a concealed'target-for most of-the above stated operation and a firing position for only a predetermined time. Hereto'fore in shooting'matches wherea limited amount of time is allowed for a certain-number of shots, it was diiiicultto insure that competitors did not fireearly or late onthe target which is' in fullview.

Ih the present construction'provision is made for simultaneously turning one, or preferably a plurality of targetsat 'the target station" from an edgewise position to aifiring position for a limited audi -predetermined amount of time. The targets may be in their expo'sed position but preferably are in their edgewise position throughout the travel-to thestarget station and are rotated-to'present their 'full :face "position :to the shooter only during @the firingpe'rio'd, thus eliminating early and latefshots (whichc-ause confusion and argument). After the :firingperiod, the targets are again turned :to their edgewise position an'dmay be=moved;by'the. shooter back-to thefiring station for purposes of examination of the targets. This latter movement gives the shooter orteam anopportunityto attach new targets'to the carrier in addition to determining the score of-theprevious round of shots.

The. principal object of this invention is to: provide a target conveying and turning device-for use in rifle and pistol matches and'foripracti'ce purposes-provided with mechanism whereby one or :preferably a plurality of targets are turned from an-edgewiseiposition to a position for firing, for a limited period of time,after which the targets are again turned in edgewise position, thus allowing adefinite time forifiring of a-given'number of-shots'at the targets.

"A 'further object of the invention-is toprovi'de target apparatus for use in rifle and pistolranges wherein means =is .provide'd for :causing the tare gtsto. move from rthe firing station *tothe-tapget station -.in an redgewiseposition, wherein thettargets .Jmay" be turned to a full face DOSitliOHi foraa predetermined amount .of time, wherein .at sthe end .of'ltliisltime period the targetsumay baturned to their .e'dgewise position and conveyed :back .to the'firing station.

,'A still further .objectofthe invention -,is tog-peovi'de vtarget apparatus. for use inrifle and pistol ranges wherein means is provided to causeethe targets to .move .from thei-firing station to the target Jstationin an edgewise position, wherein the targets are turned for ra: limitedwamountaof time to a full .faceepositiontandihen oneeagain to their .edgewise position, wherein all :of these operations are accomplished by :;the shooter isby means of manualecontrolsat the firingstation,

although automatic lturningmeans a'for the rtargts is not excluded.

:jO'ther objects,llfeaturessandtadvantagesr-of this invention will appear or .-be ,pointed out as -;the specificationproceeds.

In the accompanying drawings forming -;part hereof:

'fEigure 1-. is a top; plan viewv .of the-target ;;a-pparatus.

"Figure" 2" isia .side (elevation .of :thewtargettapparatus which'i; also shown .in..F igure 1.

Figure 13 is a; frontelevation-v of the atargetsand the target supporting means when -locatedain shoii'ting position.

Eigure'4 is aside elevation .of *thettarget ,and target supporting means eshowniin Figure..-3.

Figure'5'is a top planeviewnofaaxdetailof -the target ,oscillatingidevice; and

l Figure 6 isia' vertical sectional-view of the por- I ti'on of'the, oscillating ,devicev shown in Figure-=5. Referring to 'theldrawings; numeral 1 indicates the firing. station .whichLincludessuitable base members 2, ajpluralityof upright membersl on top *c'if 'these' upright. members. there is attached abeam'il which extends completely across the top of the ap aratus. Theouprightrmembersei provide .arframeim'eniber which supports. a,.pulley fifwhi'oh 'is' manuallyroperated, .andi a pulley All. The "pulleyifliis mounted "on the. framework ithy means"? of a shaft 5 and has a handler-1 which operated"by"the shooter. L'Asmany of thesepulleys may'jbe provided as thererare-shooters.

"'lhef 'ziill'ey"6 is provided with a M-grooveionn b'elt""9which .eirtends over the pulleyufi. and. over thepulleys lfl and H. The'horizontal reaches-of this r'ope numbered [3 also extend from pulleys I0 and J I over two .pulleys 1'4 and I5 which are located" attheitarget'station. "Thelower reach 13. ofthflo'elt: or .rope extends to the' trolley.,.m'ember lh where it is "rigidly attached. Theforward end I! ofthis"trolley'imemberf. I'G'is provided with an eye f'l8 fforithe reception of the ,end ofithe elt or'rope l 3. 'Atta'checrtothistrolley:frame are' two brackets upon which are rigidly mounted, by means of bolts 2|, two trolley wheels 22. These trolley wheels 22. run over a wire rope 23 which is rigidly attached on the upright 3 of the firing line by means of an eye 24. The trolley wheels are prevented from moving past the target station by means of a bracket 25, which is secured to the framework IS. The bracket has a socket- '26, the wire 23 passing through and being at- 'tached in the socket member 25, as shown in Fig- -'ure 4.

Projecting downwardly from the trolley'member I6 is a multi-sided supporting member 28 which is attached, as by welding, at its upper extremity to the trolley member 16. To the supporting member 28 is attached; as by welding, a bearing 21 which supports the target actuating part 3!! having a projecting stud 31 attached thereto by means of a coupling member 32 adjustably slidable on the part 30. A screw may be provided to lock the sleeve in adjusted position on the rod 30, similar to that shown for looking the sleeves 89. Connected to this stud is the oscillating mechanism which will be hereinafter described.

The target actuating part 35 has a shield 33 which extends in front of the member 3!! and serves to protect the member and coupling 32 in either of the positions of these parts, from stray bullets. The member 30 has a right angled extension forming a shaft 29 adapted to rotate ,in-the bearing 21. The shaft 29 is connected by lco'upling 34 to cylindrical extension 35 provided 'with a flattened end 36. This end has an aperr'ture, not shown, through which a bolt 31 extends sOIl which a wing nut 38 is mounted to thereby :rigidly support, by means of the spring actuated cla'mping member 39, the target 40.

When the target has been moved to the posi- "tion indicated in Figures 2, 3 and 4, the exten- :sion 35 is received in a stationary bearing or :steadying member M. This member is of sub- .stantially V-shape, as seen in Figure 1, and is :supported by a block 52. The parts 2!, 42 are supported in a framework similar to that disclosed at the firing station, which consists of a base member 43, uprights 44, and a beam memher do. The bracket 25 may be supported by the usual bullet stop I00.

Mounted adjacent to the firing station and contiguous to the manually operated pulley 6 is a hand lever 45 which is pivoted, as shown in Figure 2, at 46, this latter attachment being se-.

cured to the supporting member 41. The lever 45 is provided with a handle 48 which is used to actuate the oscillating mechanism which is to be hereinafter described from an on to an off position to thereby cause the target to be rotated from a non-firing to a firing position and vice versa. The end opposite the handle is provided with a pivoted end 49 connected to a, link 50, this latter link being pivotally connected at 5! to the flattened portion of a push arm or rod 52. The rod 52 passes through and slides in a bearing member 53 which is suitably attached to a supporting frame 54. The rod 52 extends from in front of the firing station to a bearing 55 which is likewise attached to a supporting frame 55 The rod or arm 52 similarly slides through bearing 55 and terminates in a flattened portion 51. This flattened portion is provided with an aperture 58 to which is pivotally connected a link 59 which in turn is pivotally connected at B0 to the flattened end'of a shaft 6|. Rigidly supported by the base member 43 is a bearing 62 which supports the shaft (if at one end there'- of. The other end of this hearing serves as a connection for a shaft 63, the link 6| and 63 forming a bell crank. The link 53 has a fiattened portion 64 to which is pivotally connected through the pivot 65, the link 66, which is pivotally connected through a pivot 51 to the target actuating rod 68.

By referring to Figures 1, 5 and 6, the operation of the oscillating mechanism which turns the target from an edgewise to a full face position will be described. It should be understood that each target has a separate oscillating mechanism, each of these oscillating mechanisms, however, being operated by sliding the actuating rod es. Rigidly attached to the actuatin rod 68 atspaced intervals are blocks 69 each of which has an extension It and a fork-like end portion it. When the lever 65 is moved from one extremity to another the link members change their position to the dotted lines as shown in Figure 1 and the fork-like portion 12 engages the pin 31 and rotates shaft 2'! to cause target 40 to move through substantially a 90 angle, that is from an edgewise position to a position facing the shooter.

The operation of the invention will be reviewed briefly:

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 the cycle of the operation starts when the pulleys 6 are manually rotated. The trolley wheels which carry the targets are then moved from the firing station to the target station. The shooters are now prepared to fire. When the lever 55 is operated by the target operator the targets which were previously in an edgewise position are now turned to a full face position by means of the movement of the rod 52 which in turn operates the actuating part 38 of each target. After a precarriers, while rotating targets are used by some of the shooters. This may be effected by removing shaft 28 from trolley member l6 and substituting a shaft similar to shaft 35, which may be either round or multi-sided in cross section. The

lower end of the shaft would preferably be provided with a target supporting means such as indicated at 29, 35, 31 and 38.

It is to be expressly understood that suitable. mechanism, such as a drum driven by a synchr0-" nous motor may be substituted for the hand lever 35, to thereby cause the automatic rotation of the targets from edgewise to exposed position and back to edgewise position.

The preferred embodiments having been fully described in my invention, What I claim is new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a target apparatus, the combination of 4 a firing station, a target station, a carrier hav-- ing a target secured thereto, means for'transporting said target from one station to the other,

said carrier including a shaft mounting said target, means for rotating said shaft including a lever, and a forked member connected to said le'e' ver.

determined time the operator returns lever 45v 2. In a target apparatus, the combination of a firing station, a target station, a carrier having a target secured thereto, means for transporting said target from one station to the other,

said carrier including a shaft mounting said target, means for rotating said shaft including a lever, and a forked member connected to said lever, said carrier also including a pin adapted to be engaged by the said forked member when said carrier has reached said target station.

3. In a target apparatus, the combination of a firing station, a target station, a plurality of target carriers, individually operated means for causing movement of said target carriers from the target station to the firing station, and means for simultaneously rotating all of said targets from an edgewise position to a firing position and vice versa, said means for rotating all the said targets including a member on said target carrier and a shiftable rod manually operated by lever means at said firing station, said lever means being located along the side of the target apparatus whereby the line of fire between said stations is free of obstructions.

4. In a target apparatus, the combination of a firing station, a target station, a plurality of target carriers, individually operated means for causing movement of said target carriers from the target station to the firing station, and means for simultaneously rotating all of said targets from an edgewise position to a firing position and vice versa, said means for rotating said targets including a manually operated lever, a target actuating part on each of said carriers and a rod engageable with said part operated by said lever.

5. In a target apparatus, the combination of a firing station, a target station, a plurality of target carriers, individually operated means for causing movement of said target carriers from the target station to the firing station, and means for simultaneously rotating all of said targets from an edgewise position to a firing position and vice versa, said means for rotating said targets including a manually operated lever, a rod operated by said lever, and a target actuating part on each of said carriers, means including said rod for rotating said part through an angle of substantially 90 degrees to thereby rotate said target from an edgewise position to a target firing position.

6. In a target apparatus, the combination of a firing station, a target station, a plurality of target carriers each having a target secured thereto, individually operated means for causing movement of said target carriers from the target station to the firing station, said targets being moved between stations in their edgewise position, and manually operated lever means for simultaneously rotating all of said targets from an edgewise position to a firing position and vice versa, said target carriers each having a bearing, a shaft rotatable in said bearing, and means including members cooperating with said lever means for rotating said shaft.

7. In a target apparatus, the combination of a firing station, a target station, a plurality of target carriers, individually operated means for each carrier including a pulley and a flexible member mounted on said pulley for causing movement of said target carriers from the target station to the firing station, said pulley being located adjacent said firing station and manually operated lever means for simultaneously rotating all of said targets from an edgewise position to a firing position and vice versa, said target carriers each having a bearing, a shaft rotatable in said bearing, and means including members cooperating with said lever means for rotating said shaft, and a shield mounted in front of the cooperating members.

8. In a target apparatus, the combination of a firing station, a target station, a plurality of target carriers, individually operated means for causing movement of said target carriers from the target station to the firing station, and means including a manually operated lever for simultaneously rotating all of said targets from an edgewise position to a firin position and vice versa, said target carriers each having a bearing, a shaft rotatable in said bearing, and means including cooperating members for rotating said shaft, said cooperating members including a target actuating part rigidly connected to said rotating shaft and a rod engageable with said part and connected to said lever.

9. In a target apparatus, the combination of a firing station, a target station, a plurality of target carriers, individually operated means for causing movement of said target carriers from the target station to the firing station, and means including a manually operated lever for simultaneously rotating all of said targets from an edgewise position to a firing position and vice versa, said target carriers each having a bearing, a shaft rotatable in said bearing, and means including cooperating members for rotating said shaft, said cooperating members including a target actuating part rigidly connected to said rotating shaft, a pin extending vertically from said part, and a forked member connected to said lever adapted when actuated to engage said pin and rotate said target actuating part and shaft through an angle of substantially degrees.

10. In a target apparatus, the combination of a firing station, a target station, a plurality of target carriers each of which has a target actuating part, individually operated means for causing movement of said target carriers from the target station to the firing station, and means including a manually operated lever for simultaneously rotating all of said targets from an edgewise position to a firing position and vice versa, 2. rod operated by said lever, said-last-named means also including members connecting said lever and rod with each actuating part.

JAMES L. MURPHY, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the fileof this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,160,753 Picket Nov. 16, 1915 1,281,687 Stelling Oct. 15, 1918 1,727,272 Caswell Feb. 7, 1928 1,738,874 Domingo Dec. 10, 1929 2,104,171 SChWGIill Jan. 4, 1938 2,324,294 Frazier et a1 July 13, 1943 2,344,829 McAvoy Mar. 21, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 14,866 Great Britain A. D. 1907 24,741 Great Britain A. D. 1910 299,209 Germany A. D. 1917 

